Michael Allen Blair/Mblair@JournalRegister.comBuffalo's Javon McCrea misses a shot defended by Kent's Mark Henniger, top, and Chris Evans, bottom during the first half of Thursday's 70-68 victory over Buffalo at The Q.

The 2013 Mid-American Conference men's tournament held out the tantalizing prospect of a semifinal showdown between backyard rivals Kent State and Akron.

Courtesy of a primetime performance by Kent senior forward Chris Evans in Thursday's quarterfinal game against Buffalo, that showdown is afoot.

Evans posted game-high totals of 25 points and 15 rebounds as the fourth-seeded Golden Flashes gutted out a 68-66 victory over the eighth-seeded Bulls at Quicken Loans Arena.

"Coach (Rob Senderoff) and my teammates have a lot of confidence in me," said Evans, a 6-foot-8 Virginia native and first-team all-MAC honoree.